How the Gallagher Premiership run-in shapes up for Leicester Tigers and their rivals

Jonny May scorers Tigers third try in their win at Newcastle last season. Picture - Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

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As the Gallagher Premiership takes a breather for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup to take centre, sides are collecting themselves at both ends of the table for a final assault that will see them either earn a place in the play-offs, or breathe a sigh of relief that they have climbed clear of danger.

A combination of issues has seen Leicester Tigers slip into the relegation dogfight after 17 rounds, but it is a hugely complicated situation and, realistically, four other sides are also in the thick of it - Wasps, Bristol, Worcester Warriors and Newcastle Falcons.

A bad run for seventh-placed Bath could yet drag them into it, although you would suspect a 10-point cushion at the minute would have them looking at the other end of the chart.

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All the sides in the thick of it will say they have it within their own hands to climb out of the mire and here are the routes that each will have to navigate to ensure they are playing top flight rugby next term. There are potential pitfalls

WASPS

Worcester (h) Exeter (a) Saracens (h) Bath (a) Harlequins (h)

Of all the endangered sides, Wasps look to have the toughest run-in. Maybe it is just as well for the Coventry outift that they head into the final straight with an eight-point advantage over Newcastle, who currently occupy 12th place.

BRISTOL

Bath (a) Saracens (h) Tigers (a) Sale Sharks (h) Newcastle (a)

Nothing remotely easy there for Pat Lam's side. They simply have to win at home to Sale, while that Newcastle game could provide the season's final sting in the tail.

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LEICESTER TIGERS

Exeter (h) Newcastle (a) Bristol (h) Harlequins (a) Bath (h)

All winnable - but equally, for this season's Tigers, all losable, too. A victory at Newcastle, where Tigers have a pretty sound record, would be a huge lift, but victory at home to Bristol is quite simply essential. It could all come down to a home clash with Bath. Let's not even go there . . .

WORCESTER WARRIORS

Wasps (a) Sale (h) Gloucester (h) Northampton Saints (a) Saracens (h)

The home games against Sale and Gloucester are key to the Warriors escaping. Both teams are unpredictable but you wouldn't rule out Worcester winning both on their own patch. Trips to Saints and a home clash with Sarries look more testing - and who knows what those sides will be playing for at that point?

NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Saracens (a) Tigers (h) Northampton (h) Gloucester (a) Bristol (h)

Newcastle's hopes centre on back-to-back home matches with Tigers and Saints. a brace of wins could even see them off the foot of the table. If they miss out in either then there is an increased chance that the visit of Bristol on the final regular season Saturday becomes a winner-takes-all affair.